At the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) recently held, Chinese actresses Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing each brought their highly anticipated new films to the event, with both movies having their global premieres on the evening of September 18th local time, attracting attention from the media and fans for a direct comparison. According to the ticket sales data provided by the festival officials before the premieres, Zhou Xun’s starring film “Tomorrow Will Be Better” had a slightly higher attraction rate compared to Fan Bingbing’s starring film “Diary of a Madman.”
Media and fans directly compared the box office numbers of Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing from the “head-on clash” at the event:
Zhou Xun’s film “Tomorrow Will Be Better” had a total of 1722 seats for the premiere, with only 34 tickets remaining by the eve of the premiere, leading to a high sell-out rate of 98%. The film focuses on early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, received acclaim from the audience after the screening, being praised for its “sincere emotions with restraint, delicate without being overly sentimental.”
Fan Bingbing starred in the Hollywood movie “Diary of a Madman” directed by Chinese director Wang Ying, which had 1744 seats for the premiere, with 135 tickets remaining by the eve of the premiere, resulting in a sell-out rate of 92.3%. Fan Bingbing revealed that this role was something she had never tried before, describing it as a film that is “quirky, special, and incredible.”
For a large screening hall with a capacity of over 1700 people, both films achieving over 90% attendance rates is considered remarkable in the history of Chinese-language film screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Although both new films had high attendance rates, Zhou Xun’s film slightly outperformed Fan Bingbing’s, sparking some Chinese-language media to extensively report on the topic with headlines like “Zhou Xun’s Premier Outshines Fan Bingbing” or “Victory and Prestige.”
While Zhou Xun’s film had a slight advantage in box office heat, Fan Bingbing received the “Special Tribute Award” at this year’s festival, making both actresses stand out at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It’s worth noting that during the festival, Zhou Xun walked the red carpet with understated elegance. She wore a black suit jacket and shirt, paired with a knit skirt, silk stockings, and accessorized with large purple round earrings. Her appearance caused a frenzy among fans, showcasing a strong personal connection by taking selfies with fans on the red carpet. Director Chen Kaige revealed after the screening that the film’s collaboration was made possible due to Zhou Xun’s “dominant organizing skills” bringing them together again.
Chen Kaige disclosed that Zhou Xun actually joined the project earlier than him.
According to a report from Chinese media Sina, Zhou Xun was deeply moved after encountering Alzheimer’s patients while recording the variety show “Unforgettable Restaurant” and “Life Encounters,” and this emotional experience led her to conceive the idea of making a film on the related theme.
The project “Tomorrow Will Be Better” can be said as Zhou Xun’s own initiative, as she pushed forward and ultimately invited Chen Kaige to direct, marking their third collaboration after “If You Are the One” and “The Banquet.”
“Tomorrow Will Be Better” focuses on Alzheimer’s disease within a family, carrying a heavy tragic undertone that requires actors to handle details skillfully. Chen Kaige praised Zhou Xun’s performance for her subtle and restrained portrayal, noting that she didn’t resort to dramatic emotional outbursts but instead accurately conveyed the character’s confusion, weariness, and fear through subtle facial expressions and pauses in her speech.
In Chen Kaige’s perspective, Zhou Xun’s restrained and delicate “silent acting” perfectly fulfilled the director’s intention of making a heavy story light, allowing emotions to flow naturally into the audience’s hearts through the narrative.
The chemistry and trust between Zhou Xun and Chen Kaige extended beyond the screen. During the premiere in Toronto, when Zhou Xun jokingly mentioned she had already agreed with director Chen Kaige to “collaborate again in ten years,” to which Chen Kaige quickly corrected with a smile, saying, “No, we agreed on twenty years!” It may sound like a playful moment, but it reflects the creators’ trust in each other’s status. Regardless of how time may pass, truly compatible creators will always reserve the most important place for each other on the screen.